Wells Fargo Regional Foundation Awards Grant to PBCIP

PBCIP is pleased to announce it has been awarded a five-year, $1.25 million grant by the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation to support a collaborative revitalization initiative in the Parkside Neighborhood. The investment represents the largest grant in the history of the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation. The grant will support initiatives arising from PBCIP’s neighborhood planning effort, a 10 month, resident-driven project that resulted in a comprehensive strategic plan for transformative neighborhood change.

The implementation phase being funded by Wells Fargo includes concrete steps toward accomplishing success in commercial development, housing, education, neighborhood services and health & active living initiatives. “PBCIP has been leading the revitalization of the Parkside neighborhood for over a decade,” said Denise McGregor Armbrister, Executive Director of the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation. “It’s been a privilege to partner with them and the residents of the neighborhood as the continue to build towards their vision. We are excited about the many collaborative partners who have come to the table to take this work to the next level.”

PBCIP’s implementation project represents the community’s continued attempt to bring transformative impact to a city that has been pervaded by poverty and blight for more than a generation. Residents and stakeholders, guided by PBCIP and its consultants, have set forth goals and action steps that address comprehensive community and economic development strategies. These strategies include:

Making improvements to the Haddon Ave streetscape

Advancing housing conditions

Creating a vibrant business corridor with stronger retail shops and new community based entrepreneurs filling real estate vacancies and providing jobs for residents

Providing greater access to healthy foods

Training in technology focused industries as a means to empower youth for productive career opportunities.

With support from the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation, PBCIP established the “Parkside Collaborative”. The Collaborative converges a unique team of organizations – Camden County Historical Society, Hope Works of Camden, LAEDA (Latin American Economic Development Association), NJ Conservation Foundation and (at the helm) PBCIP – unified to implement programs and strategies aimed at creating a flourishing Parkside neighborhood over the next 5 years. “The Parkside neighborhood is a neighborhood that is rich in history and a true sense of community among its residents,” said Bridget Phifer, Executive Director of Parkside Business and Communities in Partnership. “Through the Better Together Parkside initiative, we are bringing the key stakeholders who have a vested interest in the success of this neighborhood to the table to help execute the residents’ vision for the future.”

Wells Fargo Regional Foundation, established in 1998, is a private foundation that supports long-term, resident-driven neighborhood revitalization. The foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life for children and families living in low-income communities in Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware by concentrating resources on comprehensive, neighborhood-based economic and community development initiatives. Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded over $82 million in grants to more than 45 neighborhoods. For additional information on the Foundation, please visit Wells Fargo Regional Foundation

Founded over 20 years ago, PBCIP is a non-profit community development corporation working in the Parkside neighborhood of Camden. The organization integrates commercial revitalization, housing and quality-of-life initiatives to create a sustainable community. PBCIP’s accomplishments include completion of 90 for-sale rehabbed homes; 149 units of newly constructed senior and multi-family rental housing in the Parkside and Whitman Park neighborhoods of Camden.